For example, the CAA (formerly the Atlantic 10 and Yankee Conference) did have 2 divisions for a period of time. The conference didn't play a conference championship game because it would have meant 1 less regular season game before the first weekend of the NCAA DI Playoffs. I believe the NCAA DI Playoffs started either the first weekend before Thanksgiving Weekend or Thanksgiving Weekend.

Side Note: The only lower tier conference with 2 divisions in football that plays a CCG and still competes in the NCAA Playoffs is the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) which is a DII conference. So it is possible to do both and that is what the PSAC has chosen to do for whatever reason.

Since the CAA didn't play a round robin schedule when it had 2 divisions (12 teams) that meant some teams didn't play each other during the regular season. So it wasn't uncommon to have either a 2-way, 3-way, and I think maybe even a 4-way tie. As a result, the CAA had to award its automatic bid to someone even the 2 division champions didn't play each other during the regular season. So it is possible that the "conference champion" and the other division champion had the same overall record. Likewise, it is possible the other division champion had a better overall record than the conference champion. If the NCAA felt that the at-large team played a tougher overall schedule than the "conference champion," then that is when the NCAA has elected to seed the at-large team higher. Now we are only talking maybe 1 seed difference.

Keep in mind that I think the NCAA originally only "seeded" the Top 4 teams back in 1978 because it was a 16 team tournament. As the tournament expanded, I believe the NCAA increased it to the Top 8 (20 or 24 team field). I don't think the NCAA has gone to the Top 16 yet. Now when I say "1 seed difference," it is possible both teams are technically unseeded. However, the at-large team is placed in the #4 seed's bracket. While the conference champion is placed in the #1-#3 seed's bracket which can give the impression of a "lower seed."

WRT JMU, I do believe JMU's goal is to not be placed on the same side of the bracket as North Dakota State. There is a strong possibility that JMU will finish this season with the best conference record and should be crowned conference champion. However, because JMU is now ineligible, then the title and automatic bid could end up going to Villanova (example purposes) which I believe is also ranked in the Top 15 this year. So this could be a year where JMU ends up with a "higher seed" than Villanova even though Villanova was declared the conference champion. It is worth noting that the 2 schools already played on Oct. 9 and Villanova won the game 28-27, so that could become a factor too. Particularly if Villanova ends up with the higher seed even though JMU may have the better overall record. Currently JMU is 7-1 and Villanova is 6-2 (lost to Penn State and Bill & Mary last weekend). JMU plays B&M (6-2, 4-1) on Nov. 13.